Patent Leather Crashes The New Balance 550 Party

Sneaker News February 9th, 2024 (updated)

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The New Balance 550 has seen countless iterations since its debut in 2020, masterfully mixing different materials and colorways throughout a slate of in-line and collaboration models. For the new year, NB looks to inject some familiar magic in the form of glossy patent leather.

As the 550 enters its newest chapter in 2024, the Boston brand offers up three new patent leather colorways lending way to a premium look and feel on its most celebrated lifestyle model. This is somewhat of a departure from the brand’s typical motif when it comes to this prized model; the 550 typically consists of leather and/or suede builds, with favor towards vintage-inspired themes established by Aimé Leon Dore.

All three versions of this collection boast patent leather on the tip, quarter paneling, heel, and trademark N logo, with the standard leather used on the base — possibly to maintain flexibility in comfort that patent may not offer. Three colorways are currently set to release soon; a UNC-friendly mix of blue shades are joined by two inverse arrangements of black and white, a decision likely to appease the ongoing demand of “Panda” style color-blocking.

No release date has been set, but 550 fans should expect these to hit shelves soon as New Balance begins to unravel their 2024 lineup.

In other news, the New Balance 610 “Lunar New Year” released earlier this week in two colorways.